Iconic Arizona sports figures: Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Johnson top list
Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson are just some of the state’s most iconic sports figures.
The Republic
Larry Fitzgerald has been named one of 50 modern-era player finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class.Only three wide receivers have been inducted as first-ballot Hall of Famers since the year 2000.The list of 50 finalists will eventually be trimmed to a final group of seven, with up to five being inducted.
Larry Fitzgerald checked off the second step of his Hall of Fame process on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
The first step came last month, when he was named among the nominees for the 2026 class. The next came this week, when he was announced as one of 50 modern-era player finalists.
The legendary Arizona Cardinals receiver is, of course, widely considered a lock for eventual induction to the Hall of Fame. The question is whether he will be voted in on his first year on the ballot — a rare honor.
Since 2000, only three wide receivers have become first-ballot Hall of Famers: Calvin Johnson, Randy Moss and Jerry Rice.
The other modern-era receivers to be enshrined in that time frame is a much longer list: Sterling Sharpe, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Isaac Bruce, Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison Sr., Tim Brown, Andre Reed, Cris Carter, Art Monk, Michael Irvin, James Lofton, John Stallworth and Lynn Swann.
It’s a list that shows the rarity of being a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Harrison and Owens both rank top 10 all-time in both receptions and receiving yards. But both players had to wait until their third year of eligibility to be voted into Canton.
Fitzgerald, though, could join Johnson, Moss and Rice as the rare exception. He ranks second all-time in both receptions (1,432) and receiving yards (17,492). His 121 receiving touchdowns are the sixth most ever.
The next step for Fitzgerald will come when the 50 finalists are trimmed to 25, then 15. Those 15 are voted on during a selection committee meeting ahead of the Super Bowl, producing a final list of seven.
Among those seven, voters can select up to five players. A player must receive 80% of those votes to be inducted.
Other high-profile players in this class include Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Reggie Wayne, Greg Olsen, Frank Gore and Luke Keuchly. Four players — Keuchly, Willie Anderson, Torry Holt and Adam Vinateiri — are guaranteed spots in the final 15 after being in the final seven last year.
Former Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin is also among those in the current group of 50. His first year on the ballot was in 2022.